News since Qualifying: “Jenson Button will not race in Formula 1 in 2017 but will remain with McLaren as an ambassador. The 2009 world champion will work with the team and could race again in 2018, having signed a two-year contract.” [BBC]
Provisional grid: HAM, ROS, VET, RAI, BOT, RIC, VES, PER, HUL, GUT, MAS, ALO, WEH, BUT, SAI, KVY, GRO*, NAS, ERI, PAL, MAG, OCO
*GRO has dropped 5 spots due to a gearbox change
I don’t know why they bother trying to talk to Bernie Ecclestone – he avoid the questions and never treats them seriously.
Pirelli have recommended drivers do no more than 39 laps on the medium compound tyres, 34 on softs, and 20 on supersofts. The fastest strategy seems to be 2-stopping, but some may try 1-stopping.
Majority starting on supersofts; HAM, ROS, MAS, WEH, SAI and the guys at the back of the grid are on soft, except OCO on mediums.
Air temperature 29°C; track 38°C; hazy and humid
HAM leads everyone away on the formation lap
He’s setting quite a pace, stringing everyone out – he’ll have a long wait for the grid to form up
01/53: Great start from VET
HAM down to P4 as they enter the first chicane
Approaching Parabolica, HAM is down to P6
02: ROS, VET, RAI, BOT, RIC, HAM, PER, MAS, ALO, HUL, VES, GRO, WEH, SAI, KVY
PAL and NAS interlock wheels in the chicane – NAS spins
Looks like PAL has lost his front wing
HAM takes P5 from RIC
03: ROS fastest lap 1:27.726
PAL pits for a new front wing
NAS has made it back to the pits too
04: HAM uses DRS to close on the Mercedes-powered Williams of BOT
Replay of the start – HAM reacted well as the lights went out but his car bogged down
05/53: ROS, VET, RAI, BOT, HAM, RIC, PER, MAS, ALO, HUL
ROS f/lap 1:27.243
06: Radio for HAM reminding him the 3 cars ahead are on supersofts which will start degrading in the next few laps
Radio from RAI – vibration under braking
NAS is in the pits again and retires
07: ROS f/lap 1:27.234
Radio for RAI – need you to cool the engine; RAI says “I can’t slow down”
BUT threads his way through traffic in the chicane, passing GUT & MAG for P17
08: ROS f/lap 1:27.130
VES closing on ALO
09: PAL pits again – looks like he’s retiring
HAM all over the rear of BOT
10/53: ROS, VET, RAI, BOT, HAM, RIC, PER, MAS, VES, ALO, HUL, GRO, WEH, SAI, BUT, KVY, ERI, GUT, MAG, OCO; retirements: PAL, NAS
ROS f/lap 1:26.846
Radio for HAM telling him to look after his tyres
NAS given a 10-sec penalty for the incident with PAL, although they’re both out of the race
11: HAM finally takes P4 from BOT
ROS has opened a 5.5sec lead over VET; HAM is 12sec behind ROS
12: ROS f/lap 1:26.760
Radio from HAM – rear tyres are pretty wasted already
14: BOT is the first to pit, followed by VES, ALO and KVY
Radio for HAM – pick up the pace, 3 laps until his stop
15/53: ROS, VET, RAI, HAM, RIC, PER, MAS, HUL, GRO, WEH, SAI, BUT, BOT, ERI, GUT, VES, MAG, ALO, OCO, KVY
HUL pits
BOT makes a move on BOT… and then SAI, to rise to P10 after his pit stop
16: RAI pits, as does PER
RAI goes to supersofts, so he’ll have to pit again
NAS is on track again, although he’s 10 laps down – is that just so he can serve the penalty and avoid it being carried forward?
17: ROS over 11sec clear of VET
VET pits from P2; supersofts; 3.9sec stop is a bit slow; rejoins P3 just ahead of RAI
Replay of ALO’s stop shows the “traffic light” was red, telling him the team are still working on the car so he’s waved out by a mechanic
19: NAS back in the pits
20/53: ROS, HAM, VET, RAI, BOT, RIC, GRO, PER, VES, MAS
22: Radio from HAM saying tyres are OK now; told stop will be target+2
PER past GRO for P7
ALO takes P12 from SAI
23: HAM is 12.5sec behind his teammate
ROS about to lap OCO (P18)
24: SAI and ERI pit
25/53: ROS pits; medium tyres; 3.9sec stop – looks like front right tyre going on hit the one coming off because ROS was a fraction past his mark
ROS rejoins P2
26: HAM pits; mediums; clean stop; rejoins P4
Radio for HAM – the Ferraris must stop again, we just need to match their times
Half distance
27: ROS f/lap 1:26.599 – that’s 0.5sec faster than the supersoft shod Ferraris
28: HAM f/lap 1:26.303
Radio for WEH – stop the car and switch off; WEH checks “stop immediately?”; confirmed
29: PER pits – his second stop
30/53: ROS, VET, RAI, HAM, BOT, RIC, VES, MAS, HUL, ALO, PER, BUT, GUT, GRO, SAI, KVY, ERI, MAG, OCO; retirements: WEH, PAL, NAS
31: BOT pits from P5; softs; 2.3sec stop; rejoins P9
32: MAG pits just as the front runners are lapping him
PER takes P10 from ALO
33: BOT easily past HUL for P8
34: VET pits from P2; softs; rejoins P5
HUL and ALO pit too
35/53: RAI pits; rejoins P6, behind VES
36: VES pits, saving RAI the challenge of passing him
KVY under investigation for speeding in the pit lane
37: MAS pits; supersofts; rejoins P10
KVY given a 5 second penalty
Radio for BUT – “Cars on your pit window are about to be lapped. They will lose time. Your pace is good.”
38: RIC pits; rejoins P6 behind BOT
KVY pits; pushed into the garage
40/53: ROS, HAM, VET, RAI, BOT, RIC, PER, VES, MAS, HUL, GRO, ALO, SAI, BUT, GUT, ERI, MAG, OCO; retirements: KVY, WEH, PAL, NAS
41: HAM locks up into the first chicane; has to cut the corner
SAI pits; rejoins P6
42: Radio for HAM – just be careful of the lock-ups; seems a bit unnecessary to tell him that, surely?
43: RAI f/lap 1:26.287
Radio for VES warning him to stay a car’s width away from the left side of the main straight because of marbles
RIC closing on BOT
SAI takes P15 from ERI
44: RAI f/lap 1:26.268
45/53: BUT dives down the inside of ALO into the first chicane; takes P12 from his teammate
ALO tries to fight back but BUT pulls away
46: RIC still closing on BOT; he’s now in DRS range
VES closing on PER for P7
47: RIC f/lap 1:26.252
RIC makes a late dive at BOT into the chicane – BOT leaves just enough space for them both to make it through the turn – RIC takes P5
48: VES on the tail of PER
Radio for ALO telling him to keep up the pace because he might get to attack GRO; ALO laughs 🙂
49: VES passes PER; PER decides to cut the corner – not even close to any contact
50/53: ROS, HAM, VET, RAI, RIC, BOT, VES, PER, MAS, HUL, GRO, BUT, ALO, GUT, SAI, ERI, MAG, OCO
51: RAI f/lap 1:26.016
ALO pits – that’s a late stop for supersofts; drops to P14
52: BUT on GRO’s tail but there’s only 2 laps left
53/53 = final lap: BUT has a look but decides not to attack GRO into the first chicane
ALO f/lap 1:25.340
ROS takes the chequered flag – his first win in Monza
That’s closed HAM’s championship lead to just 2 points
Provisional result: ROS, HAM, VET, RAI, RIC, BOT, VES, PER, MAS, HUL; GRO, BUT, GUT, ALO, SAI, ERI, MAG, OCO
DNF: KVY, WEH, PAL, NAS
Toto Wolff happy to win in “Ferrariland” 🙂
ROS talking to VET in German in the cool-down / pre-podium room, excluding HAM
VET almost puts on the 1st place cap
VET gets a massive cheer from the Tifosi as he walks to the podium
Boos for HAM or ROS as they head out
Great shot from behind the drivers, looking out at the huge crowd
Christian Horner said VES had anti-stall kick in at the start
GP2 driver Pierre Gasly is reported by Italian media as saying he’ll replace KVY in the next race (Singapore); Toro Rosso boss Dr Helmut Marko says that’s rubbish and will be calling Gasly. Whoops!